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| FAQsCase             StudiesTrainingContactsGlossaryDiscussion             ForumSite             IndexFact SheetUnited States             Environmental Protection            AgencyOffice of Water            4304TEPA-822-F-03-002            June 2003Summary of Biological Assessment and Programs and Biocriteria Development         for States, Tribes, Territories and Interstate Commissions: Streams and         Wadeable Rivers
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), through the Offices of         Water and Environmental Information, published a document describing the         status of state and tribal biological assessments and biological criteria         development for rivers and streams. Compiled from states, tribes, territories         and interstate commissions, the information illustrates the great progress         states and tribes have made over the last six years in using biological         assessments and criteria to manage our Nation's waterbodies. 

**What are Biological Assessments and Biological Criteria?**        Biological assessments (often called "bioassessments") are the         primary tool to measure the biological condition of a waterbody. Bioassessments         use surveys and other direct measurements to determine the presence, condition         and numbers of types of aquatic life – fish, insects, algae and plants         – in the water. Bioassessment information is used with assessments         of nutrients, chemicals and temperature to determine the overall health         of a waterbody and help environmental managers plan and set program goals         and targets.

Biological criteria (called "biocriteria") are narrative descriptions         or numeric values that describe the qualities necessary to support a desired         condition in a waterbody. They are the standard against which bioassessment         results are compared.

**How do states, tribes and others use bioassessments and biocriteria?**        Under the Clean Water Act, states and tribes must develop and adopt water         quality standards to protect designated aquatic life uses or achieve use         goals. Biocriteria are a way to assess and help protect the biological         resources and to document compliance with regulatory requirements. States,         tribes and others use bioassessments in setting aquatic life goals and         describing acceptable biological conditions for their streams and rivers.         These goals not only protect aquatic communities in their waters. Bioassessments         and biocriteria can also be used to establish restoration goals where         the condition of aquatic ecosystems are less than desired. 

Many people now use the biological information gathered from these bioassessments         to report on the status of waterbodies nationwide. The information helps         determine what waters meet or do not meet their designated aquatic life         use goals and what waterbodies are impaired. Bioassessments and biocriteria         help states, tribes and others develop and implement effective protection         and restoration strategies.

**Why did EPA create this document?**        In 1996, EPA conducted an inventory of state bioassessment programs for         streams and wadeable rivers (Summary of State Biological Assessment Programs         for Streams and Rivers, EPA 230-R096-007). The inventory helped us determine         how many states were using bioassessments and biocriteria in their water         management programs and how they were using them. EPA used the information         to evaluate state bioassessment and biocriteria capabilities and estimate         state and tribal needs for technical support.

In the second half of the 1990s, EPA made it a national priority for         state and tribal water quality standards programs to adopt biocriteria         so they could better protect aquatic life in all waters. By 2001, momentum         to adopt biocriteria had grown, and EPA decided a second inventory was         needed to re-assess the progress that states had made in developing and         adopting bioassessments and criteria since 1995.

The new summary document illustrates changes and improvements in bioassessment         capabilities over the past six years. It is important evidence for advancement         of the program and EPA's successful transfer of bioassessment techniques.         The information will help EPA better focus water quality standards and         criteria development efforts for the next several years, target new program         priorities to achieve greater environmental results, and provide for the         technical support needs of environmental managers.

**How do I get a copy of the document?**        You can get copies of the complete document, titled Summary of Biological         Assessment Programs and Biocriteria Development for States, Tribes, Territories,         and Interstate Commissions: Streams and Wadeable Rivers (EPA-822-R-02-048),         by calling EPA's Water Resource Center by phone at (202) 566-1729, or         by sending an e-mail to [email protected] . You can also make         your request by conventional mail addressed:

 EPA Water Resource Center, RC-4100          1200 Pennsylvania Ave, NW          Washington, DC 20460

You can also visit EPA's web site on the Internet to learn more. Go to         http://www.epa.gov/waterscience/biocriteria/         for information on the biocriteria program or to download         the summary document.

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